Building construction



June 23. 1 4 s. E. HUBBARD 3,138,229

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. S EUGENE HUBBARD ATTORNEYS n 3, 1964 s. E. HUBBARD BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 FIG. l5

INVENTOR.

s EUGENE HUBBARD ATTORNEYS June 23, 1964 s. E. HUBBARD 3,138,229

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS United States PatentO 3,138,229 BUILDING CUNSTRUCTEON S. Eugene Hubbard, Niles, Mich, assignor to American Metai Climax, line, a corporation of New York Filed Ban. 3t 1961, er. No. 85,528 20 Qiaims. (Ci. 189*65) This invention relates to building constructions, and particularly to a wall system wherein a plurality of Wall elements are interconnected by resilient structural weather strips. The present system of wall construction may be used to construct store fronts, curtain walls, and the like.

Systems of building front constructions have already been proposed wherein infill components such as glazing and panels are held in place by resilient structural weather strip. The structural weather strip is a formed resilient gasket which, besides the customary function of providing a seal against the weather, serves the structural functions of actually supporting and retaining glass or panels within a curtain wall grid, and of transmittting to the grid structural loads arising from the weight 'of the glass or panels and also the live loads imposed upon them.

Certain disadvantages have been inherent in the prior systems; for example, it has been required that the corners of the weather strips be preassembled into prefabricated frames with molded corners Which-is not only expensive and time consuming but also limits the ability to stock components of the system and to adaptthe construction to a'wide variety of building conditions. The effect has been to limit the use of such construction to relatively expensive buildings where the added costs may be accepted. Moreover, the molded corners have presented difficulties in maintaining the shape and resiliency between the extruded and molded portions resulting in a difference of the sealing pressures at the corners and at the other portions and raising the possibility of leakage. Moreover, it has been difficult in practice to maintain the same appearance of the extruded and molding portions resulting in many cases in an unsatisfactory appearance of the completed wall. Generally, prior applications of the structural weather strip to building systems have been in connection with metal curtain walls of otherwise. conventional design wherein the structural weather strip has been used only as an alternate means of sealing and supporting the infill components but in which the metal to metal joints, characteristic of'a metal curtain wall construction, have been allowed to remain.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improvedbuilding wall construction employing structural weather strips which overcome theaforementioned difliculties. a

3,138,229 Patented June 23, 1964 ice proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly, according to the present invention, a building wall system is provided wherein glass or other panels and sash are retained and sealed to mullions and head and base runners by resilient structural weather strips formed of neoprene or other suitable natural or synthetic rubber-like material. The structural weather strip is provided with a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves, each of the grooves being adapted to engage an edge of the panel or a flange of a framing member. The weather strip is provided with square corners which permit simple butt joints between intersecting strips. A particularly advantageous framing member is provided which has a pair of oppositely extending coplanar flange portions, each of which is received in one of the grooves. of one of the weather strips. The wall system is attached to the building through base and head runner assemblies which include adapter angles secured to the building structure by any appropriate means and further include a narrow U-shaped member forming a'telescoping fit over an outstanding leg of the angle so that the flange member may be used to level the base runner. V

To install the wall system, the structural weather strip is applied tothe base runner assembly through the mullions, thereby extendirig the entire length of the base runner. A section of the web of the mullion is coped out at the top and bottom of the mullion to allow for the web of the structural weather strip to extend through the mullion. This forms a tail of the flange of the vertical mullion which seats and locks in one of the grooves of the transverse weather strip. Glass or [other infill components may be used to fill the openings and are held in place by the structural weather strip.

According to another feature of the present invention, the wall is substantially insulated and any through metal in the mullion is minimized by use of a mullion insulator which extends over the inner surface of the mullion filling the space between the weather strip on adjacent flanges of the mullion.

According to yet another feature of the present invention, a compatible operating window is provided for'the wall system wherein the frame of the window,-like other infill components, has a continuous flange all around and is secured to the other elements of the wall by means of the structural weather strip. Similarly, the sash porinterconnects-this flange with the sash glazing. The

weather seal for the window is made between the metal framing and sash members and the structural weather strip, and the inside and outside metal portions of the so as to reduce heat transfer by through metal conductors.

an improved base runner assembly for leveling and sup- I; porting a building wall structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide A'further objectof the present invention is to provide struction-"to'normal dimensional variations which maybe an improved window structure which mayreadilyand economically be manufactured and assembled;

Further objects and advantages of the presentjinvention willbecome apparent as the following description "FIG. 1 is a perspective-viewof 'a wall structure accord It will be seen that the building wall system according to the presentinvention is advantageous in that'the strucp p tural Weatherstrip providesa means of economically obtaining an insulated wall structure whichhas heretofore been obtainable only in relatively expensive, custom designed walls. The present system minimizes'the num ber'of parts and fastenings required to install; the; Walk Moreover, there is incorporated into the system an eifec-' tive and. simple means 'of accommodating the'wall con-1 expected iin buiiding constructions. The nature'of theginvention will bestfbe understoo when described in f co nn'ectio'n' with; the accompanyin drawingsyin which-:

3: ing to the present invention and viewed from the inside of the building;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the wall structure of FIG. 1 taken of detail 22 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the mullion to base runner assembly joint;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base runner to mullion joint of FIG. 2 with certain of the components removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the end mullion to base runner joint;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the structural weather strip used in the wall structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the structural weather strip of FIG. 5 illustrated prior to its assembly in the wall system;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view of a mullion and panel assembly taken along line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a panel assembly taken along line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view of a window assembly taken along line 99 of FIG. 1 and illustrated in perspective;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of the window illustrated in FIG. 9 and taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the window illustrated in FIG. 9, but shown with the sash portion open;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a mullion insulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a panel and mullion assembly illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional elevational view of a panel to base runner connection according to the embodiment of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional elevational view of a wall system employing a modified form of mullion according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a wall structure according to the present invention and comprising a plurality of spaced vertical mullions or frame members supported at their lower and upper ends by a base runner assembly 22 and a head runner assembly 24, each of which is secured to a surface 26 and 28 respectively of the building. Although the wall in FIG. 1 is viewed from the inside of the building, the mullions 20 normally being on the outside of the building, it is to be understood that the mullions 20 can be on the inside of the building, and the wall reversed. The space between the vertical mullions 20 is filled with a plurality of infill components 29 including a plurality of glass panels or glazing 30, a plurality of opaque panels 32, and, if desired, one or more operating window assemblies 34. The vertical edges of the infill components 29 are supported to the vertical mullions 20 by vertically extending structural resilient weather strips 36. The horizontal edges of the infill components 29 adjacent to the base runner assembly 22 and the head runner assembly 24 are connected to the respective assemblies 22 and 24 by horizontally extending resilient structural weather strips 38 which are identical in cross section to the weatherstn'ps 36. Similarly, adjacent horizontal edges of vertically positioned panels are secured together by resilient structural weather strip 40 which is identical in cross section to the weather strips 36 and 38. I

In order to hold the components of the wall system together, there is provided theresilient structural weather strips 36, 38, and 40, which are all identical in cross sec-- tion; therefore, only the vertical weather strip 36 is herein described in detail. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the structural weather strip 36 is of substantially H-' shaped cross section and is formed of resilient material such as, for example, of neoprenef The strip 36 is pro- CJI vided with a pair of opposed grooves 42 and 44 adapted to receive edges or flanges of the wall components and forming two pairs of legs 45 and 46. Additionally, the weather strip 36 is provided with square shoulders 47 at the ends of its legs 45 and 46. These square corners 47 permit butt joints to be made of intersecting weather strip by simple square cuts. These butt joints may readily be made tight in the actual installation by cutting the Weather strips into slightly excess lengths and forcing them in place, thereby resulting in pressure which effectively seals the joints against water or air infiltration.

In order to facilitate assembly of the weather strip 36 with its adjacent components, the weather strip is actually extruded and shipped to the job site in the distorted form shown in FIG. 6. It will be seen in FIG. 6 that the weather strip 36 is provided with a third longitudinally extending groove 43 positioned between the opposed grooves 42 and 44 and additionally there is provided a filler means or strip 50 which is adapted to be forced into the groove 48 to cause the opposed grooves 42 and 44 to move together and to grip the edges or flanges of adjacent components. In the illustrated embodiment, the weather strip 36 has the filler strip 50 integrally connected adjacent one edge of the groove 48 by a hingelike portion of resilient material 52 and the other edge of the filler strip 50 is provided with a ridge 54 which, whenever the filler strip 50 is inserted in the groove 48, locks into a groove 56 to secure the filler strip 50 in the groove 48. It is to be understood, of course, that the filler strip 48 may be separate from the remainder of the weather strip In order to support the wall system at spaced intervals, there is provided the plurality of spaced vertical mullions 20. One typical mullion and panel joint is illustrated in FIG. 7. Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, it will be seen that each of the vertical mullions 20 is formed of bent steel sheet and is provided with a body portion 60, here shown as a hollow tubular box-shaped section, and a pair of coplanar flanges 62 are connected to the body portion 60 by a pair of webs 64. Although the mullion 20 illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9 is formed of bent sheet, it is to be understood that the mullion 20 may be formed in any appropriate manner. Each of the flanges 62 is of generally U-shape having a first leg 62a connected to a second leg 62b through a bight portion 62c with the end of the first leg 62a secured to the edge of the web 64 and the other leg 62b forming a return lip. The longitudinal edges of the legs 62b are aligned and spaced closely apart to define a T-shaped slot 62d for the reception of a mullion insulator 66. The bar of the T-shaped slot 62d forms an enlarged hollow cavity 62a created by the legs 62a and 62b. It will be seen that the flanges 62 lie outwardly or remote of the body portion 60 in a common plane and that the web 64 extends normal thereto and interconnects the flanges 62 with the body portion 69. The flanges of adjacent mullions 20 together with the head and base runner assemblies 24, 26 form a coplanar frame and the infill components 29 such as the glazing 30 are positioned with their edges or flanges coplanar with the flanges 62 of the mullions 20, their edges being closely spaced from the flanges 62 and from the base and head runner assemblies. The resilient weather strips 36 interconnect the edgesof the glazing 30 or other infill components 29 with the flanges 62 of the mullions; one of the grooves 42 of the weather strip grips the edge of the infill components 29 while the other of the opposed grooves 44 grips the flange 62 of the mul- 20 and best illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 15. The insulator thereof and provided with a pair of flanges 660 on the Web spaced from the body 66a of the insulator and adapted to snap into the slot 62d. The body portion 66:; 1s provided at its sides with projecting fins 66d which, when the insulatoris pushed into the groove 62d at the back of the mullion, flexes locally so as to assure continuity of contact between the mullion insulator and the adjacent attached weather strips. The body portion 66a may be provided with a longitudinal cavity see. The insulator 66 is positioned between adjacent weather strip 36 and the web 66!) thereof is forcedthrough the slot 62d formed by the'return lips 62]) of the flanges 62 of the mullion 20 and into the cavity 626 thereof so as to interlock the flanges 66c of the web 66b with the edges of the return lips 62b and to securely hold the mullion insulator in place.

Horizontal joints between adjacent components are normally accomplished with the structural weather strips without metal reinforcing components. One such connection is illustrated in FIG. 8. As seen in FIG. 8, the glazing 39 is connected to the panel 32 by the structural weather strip 46 whose opposed grooves 42 and 4d grip the respective spaced coplanar edges of the infill components 32 and 30, respectively. Moreover, as readily seen in FIG. 8, the present wall system is conveniently used with panels 32 of various thicknesses so long as the panels 32 are provided with an edge or tongue 32a of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the groove 42. Moreover, if desired, the wall system may readily be adapted to interconnect infill'components having a different edge thickness as more fully described hereinafter in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14.

The vertical mullions 24) are supported at their edges by the base runner assembly 22 and the head runner assembly 24, respectively. The infill components are supported at their vertical edges by the pressure and friction of the structural weather strip. As the connection to the base runner assembly 22 and the head runner assembly 24 is identical, only a representative mullion joint with the base runner 22 is herein illustrated for purposes of clarity. Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, there is illustrated the detail of the mullion-to-base runner assembly joints. It will be seen that the base runner as sembly 22 includes an adapter angle 68 illustrated as formed of bent sheet, but which may be formed in any suitable manner as by extrusion, and having a horizontal wardly extending lip 72c at the lower end of its outer leg '72!) to provide with the surface 26 of the building a i Q of upstanding legs 74:! interconnected by a bight portion 74b and additionally includes another leg 74c extending transversely of the other legs 74a from the bight portion 74b and spaced therefrom to form a pair of slots 74d to tightly receive a web 6th: of the body portion 66 of the mullion 20. The leg 740 is provided with a tapped hole '74@ for receiving the screw '76 and the web hilt; is provided with'an aligned opening or recess 6W so that the mullion clip 74 thereby serves the combined function of a spacer for the mullion 2t) and a nut to receive the screw 76.

in order to permit the resilient weather strip 38 to run continuously the length of the base runner assembly 22 without interference from the mullion 2%), the web 64 of the mullion is coped out at both ends to provide a passage at each end through which the weather strip may pass. The flanges 62 extend beyond the cope as indicated at 62s so that they may be received into one groove 42, of the weather strip 38. Referring particularly to FIGJ l, there is fragmentarily illustrated a mullion 26 having a body portion 69 and a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 62 connected to one side of the body 6% by the web 64. The body portion is somewhat longer than the flanges 62 and the web 64 is coped out thereby terminating short of the end of the flanges-62 to prevent interference between the web 64 and the leg 45 (FIG. 2) of the weather strip 38. A lower end 6212 of the flanges 62"is thereby receivable in the groove 42 of the weather strip 38. The vertically extending Weatherstrip as forms a butt joint with the horizontally extending weather strip 38; and

since the weather strips are provided with square corners 47, the intersecting weather strips are cut longer than required by nominal dimensions and are then compressed leg 58a secured to the surface 26 of the building in any appropriate manner such as by a plurality of expansion bolts '70; The adapter-angle additionally includes a vertical leg 63b extending vertically from one edge of the horizontal leg 68-21 and aligned substantially coplanar with theflanges 62a of the mullions 2t) and with the infill components 2%. Additionally, the base runner assembly includes a flange portion or runner portion72 extending vertically from the surface 26 and formed of a U-shaped runner coplanar with the other flanges of the, system and telescopically fitting over the vertical leg 68b and including a pair of legs 72a and 72b interconnected by a bight portion 72c. One of the legs 72a is provided with an inwardly extending, longitudinally running depression 72d. The depression 72d serves asan aid in drill centering during assembly and additionally cooperates with the other leg 72b to frictionally hold the flange portion 72' during leveling of the flange portion 72 with the adapter angle 63. 1 1

In order to secure the mullion 2% to the base runner assembly 22, there is provided a mullion clip 74, best il'- lustrated in FIG. 3, which issecured at the proper height by a screw '76 passed through a hole 7% extending through the legs 72aand 72b of the flange portion 72 andthe vertical leg 68b of the adapter angle 68 and field-drilled in the assembled flange'portion 72 and adapter angle tionally, the flange portion 72 is provided with an out in installation, the intersecting weather strips thereby form a tight joint. The infill components 29 have their respectiveedges retained in the groove 42 of the horizontally extending weather strip 38 and have their'vertical; edges secured to the flanges 62 by the vertical weather strips 36 in grooves 42 thereof. As best seen in FIG. 1, the horizontal weather strips 40 intermediate the upper and lower horizontal strips 38 do not run. through but butt against the weather strips 36.

- The described base runner assembly 22 provides .for, ready leveling of the assembly to compensate for irregu-,

Specifically, the base runner assembly 22 is assembled by first "assembling la'rity in the level of the surface 26.

the adapter angle 28 to the surface 26 by the bolt '70 or otherwise and then the flange portion 72jis' forced in telescopic fit over the other or vertical legv 68b of the adapter angle 68. The flange portion'72 may thenbe leveled. The flange portion 72 will remain temporarily in a leveled position by its frictional engagement with the legffiflb; however, the flange portion 72*1nay additionally be held temporarily in leveled position in any.

desired manner as is well known. Once the flange portion 72 has been leveled the holes '78 are drilled entirely through the flange portion 72 and. the, legyS-b and the I i flange portion 72 is secured in leveledposition with re spect to the adapter angle 6? bythe screws 76 which extend'through the holes 78. Qncethe flange portion of the base runner, has been leveledand dri1led, the mullion 2tl'is positioned by the mullion clips i relative.

to the base runner, at, which time screw-76 is screwed into the clip 74 thereby securing and positioning the base of p i the mullion 2d with'respeot 'to the base runner assembly; I With the mullion 2t held'in a vertical position, the-head runner 72 is pulled down so that flange 72k. IGStStl IPOII ZZ" clip '74 at thetop of the mullion; Thenta'hole f0r;the

7 bolt 76 is drilled in the head assembly and the mullion is connected to the head.

It will be appreciated that the adapter angles 68 and the flange portions 72 may be provided and used in stock lengths and field-cut with joints permitted to occur at random. These horizontal Weather strips are used in stock lengths with butt joints between adjacent strips being allowed to occur at random. Of course, the strip is cut longer than the nominal dimension and is installed compressed so that a tight joint is formed. It is, however, preferable that the mullions 20 be factory-cut to length according to the job dimension and provided with the standard copes at both its ends for connection to the base and head runner assemblies 22 and 24, respectively.

An operating window assembly adapted for use as one of the infill components 29 and generally identified as 34 is best illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11. As therein illus trated, the window frame members are formed of extruded aluminum; it is to be understood, of course, that the window frame members can be formed in any suitable manner, such as of bent sheet steel. Moreover, although the window is illustrated as a project-out window, that is, one that projects out at the bottom, other windows, such as hopper windows, would be substantially similar, and would be built of the same components. Therefore, for purposes of clarity, only the project-out window is illustrated and described. The Window frame, like the other components, has a continuous outwardly extending coplanar flange all mound, thereby permitting the window assembly to be installed interchangeably with the other components, using the same structural weather strip. Additionally, the sash portion of the window has an inwardly extending coplanar flange all around its inside by means of which the structural weather strip is used to support the sash glazing. Referring now specifically to FIGS. 9 to 11, the window 34 includes a frame portion 80 formed of an upper horizontal frame member 82, a lower horizontal frame member 84, and a pair of vertical side frame members 86 connecting the horizontal frame members. The horizontal frame members 82 and 84 are identical in cross section; the vertical frame members 86 are also identical in cross section, but differ slightly from the frame members 82 and 84. However, each of the horizontal frame members 82 and 84 is substantially angular in cross section with a first or edgewise leg 90 and a second or sidewise leg 92 extending inwardly from one edge of the first leg 99. Similarly, each of the vertical frame members 36 is substantially angular in cross section with a first or edgewise leg 89 and a second or sidewise leg 91 extending inwardly from one edge of the first leg 89. The inwardly extending legs 91 and 92 form a sash opening 93. The sidewise legs 91 and 92 of the frame members 84 and 86 are coplanar and extend from the inside edge of the leg 90 with reference to the surface of the wall, while the sidewise leg 92 of the upper horizontal frame member 82 extends from the outside edge of the edgewise leg 90 so that the sidewise leg 92 of this frame member is on the opposite side of the wall relative to the sidewise legs 91 and 92 of the frame members 84 and 86. Each of the edgewise extending legs 89 and 9 is provided with an outwardly extending flange.94 and 95 intermediate its edges and running longitudinally thereof to form outwardly extending coplanar flanges receivable in the window opening formed by the inwardly extending flanges of the head runner assembly 24, the flanges 62 of the mullions 20, and the flange 32a of the panel 32 and closely spaced therefrom. The flanges 94 and 95 are coplanar with the flanges of the window opening and are connected thereto through the structural weather strips 38, 36, and 40, being receivable in one of the grooves of said weather strips. surface of the vertical frame members 86 is provided with a longitudinally extending T-slot 97 to provide for securing window hardware components.

In order to minimize through metal in the window as- The inner sembly 34 and to provide a metal to rubber weather seal, a free edge 89a and a of the respective edgewise legs 89 and 90 is cut off short so as not to contact the mating frame member. In this manner, the metal frame members 82, 84, and 86 do not extend the complete depth of the weather strips 36, 38, and 40 but the legs 89 and 90 thereof terminate short of the side surface of the weather strip thereby providing for a pressure contact with structural weather strip.

A sash portion 96 of the windows 34 is positioned within the sash opening 93 and is pivotally mounted on a slidable pivot to act as a projected-out sash. The sash portion 96 includes a sash frame formed of an upper sash member 98, a lower sash member 100, and a pair of side sash members 102 which are identical in cross section to the frame members 82, 84, and 86, respectively, forming the frame portion 80 but are assembled with the flange portions 94 and thereof extending inwardly coplanar for receiving a plurality of structural weather strips, identified as 104- and identical to the weather strips 36 and which grip the flanges 94 and 95 of the sash members 98, 100, and 102 in one groove, and which grip a closely spaced edge of the glazing panel or glass 106 in its other groove. Additionally, the sidewise legs 91 and 92 of the sash members 102, 98 and 100 extend outwardly. Moreover, the upper sash member 98 is turned with the sidewise leg 92 on the inside of the wall while the remaining sash members 98 and 102 are turned with the sidewise legs 92 on the outside of the wall so that the sidewise legs 91 and 92 of complementary frame members and sash members are on opposite sides of the building wall. When the sash portion 96 is closed, the inwardly extending sidewise legs 91 and 92 on the framemembers 82, 84, and 86 abut and seal against the structural weather strip 104 which interconnects the glass 106 with the sash members 98, 100 and 102 while the sidewise legs 91 and 92 of sash members 98, 100, and 102 seal against the weather strips 38, 36, and 40 which interconnect the frame portion 80 to the edges and flanges of adjacent wall components.

To provide for opening of the sash portion 96, the sash portion 96 is pivotally mounted to the frame portion 80 by a sliding pivot or hinge means generally represented at 99 (FIG. 10). The hinge means 99 includes a pair of binge block 101 slidably positioned in a pair of tracks 103 respectively secured in the T-slots 97 of the vertical frame members 36, and a pair of binge leaves secured to respective upper corners of the sash portion 96 and operatively and pivotally connected with the respective hinge blocks 101 by a pair of hinge pins 107.

In order to slidably position the hinge block 101 during opening or closing of the sash portion 96, the sash portion 96 and the frame portion 80 are interconnected by a connecting link 109 pivotally connected to both the vertical frame members 86 and the vertical sash members 102 intermediate their ends about pins 111 and 113 respectively. It will be appreciated that opening or closing of the sash portion 96 is effective to pivot the sash portion 96 relative to the hinge block 101 about the hinge pin 107 and simultaneously to slide the hinge block 101 in the track 103 due to the effect of the connecting link 109.

The window construction, according to the present invention, is advantageous in that the weather seal between the movable sash portion 96 and the frame portion 80 is made between the metal frame and sash members with the structural weather strips thereby producing a weather seal. Moreover, the inside and outside metal portions of the window are substantially separated from each other. Additionally, the window presents a single rim of metal of uniform width surrounding the sash Weather strip to give a pleasing window appearance which is consistent with other components in the building wall.

The system of mullions, weather strips and panels is readily adaptable to interconnect infill components such asinsulating panels or double glazing having a larger C1 edge dimension. Such a modification is readily accomplished by employing structural Weather strips provided with wider grooves. One such modified form of wall construction is illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14. Similar parts of FIGS. 13 and 14 and of the preceding embodiment are identified by the same numbers. Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is illustrated in FIG. 13 a cross sectional plan view of a building wall construction wherein panels fill and 112 having a substantially greater edge thickness than the thickness of the flange 62 of the mullion 2d are used. This is readily accomplished through the use of structural weather strips,

generally indicated as 114, of general H-shape and similar to that heretofore described, but provided with opposed longitudinal grooves lid adapted to receive the edge thickness of t e panels 110 and 112. vThe strips 114 are provided with a third longitudinal groove I118 spaced between the grooves 116 and filled with a filler strip 112%) when assembled in a wall system. The thickness of the mullion flanges 62 is built up to the same thickness as the edge thickness of the panels 114) and 112 by a mullion insulator 122 formed of comparatively stiff, resilient material and including a substantially rectangular cross sectional body 123 which extends across the outside or face of the flanges 62 so that the combined thickness of the insulator body 123 and flange 62 corresponds to the edge thickness of the panels lltl and 112. Besides serving to build up the thickness of the flanges 62, the mullion insulator 1.22, of course, additionally functionsto insulate the mullion Ztl and to minimize through metal in the area of the mullion 2h.

lb mullion 132 is provided with a body portion 132e, here shown as a hollow tubular box-shaped section, and a pair of coplanar flanges 132a and 13212 are connected to the body portion 1322 by a web 1320. The web 1320 extends normal to the plane of the flanges 132a and 13211 intermediate the ends of the flanges, thereby connecting the flanges to the body portion 132a. Moreover, the mullion 132 is provided for a longitudinally extending T-slot intermediate the ends of the flanges 132a and 13211 on the side thereof opposite the web 1320. The T-slot 132d is adapted to receive the flanges (:60 of the mullion insulator 66 in a similar manner heretofore described in connection with the preceding embodiments. Moreover, the flanges 132a and 1321) form a frame with other Wall elements for receiving the infill components 29 such as the glazing 36 or other panels. The infill components 29 are supported by the flanges 132a and 132i; thereof by means of the structural weather strip 36.

. FIG. 14 discloses a typical joint between a base runner assembly and the panel 112 having the relatively thick edge sections. The base runner assembly is formed of a generally U-shaped adapter 124 having a pair of upstanding vertical legs 124a and 12412 interconnected by a bight portion 1224c. Additionally, the adapter assembly includes a flange or runner portion 126 of generally in verted U-shape and including a pair of legs 126a and 12612 interconnected by a bight portion 1260. Therunner portion 126 is telescopically fit over the adapter member 124 and is aligned coplanar with the flanges of the mullions and other components in the wall system. The runner portion 126 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 126d on the outer surface of its inner leg 126a to form a center for starting a drill bit. Addition-ally, the runner assembly 125 is providedwith projecting lip 1266 at the bottom of its outer leg 12612 which forms a pocket with the floor or base wall to provide for caulking as illustrated at 13%. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the base runner assembly, including the adapter member 124 and the runner portion 126, are formed of extruded aluminum; it is, however, understood that the components may be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material.

The mullion 29 is assembled to the base runner assembly in the same manner as that described in the previous embodiments. Specifically, the mullion 2% is provided with a coped end and is secured to the runner portion 126 by the mullion clip 74; which rests on the lip 1260 of the runner portion 125 and the complete assembly is held together .by a bolt 1% which passes through a hole fielddrilled in the assembly and which is threaded .into the mullion clip 74. Afterthe mullion and runner assembly are joined, the structural weather strip is assembled on the runner portion 126..

While the above described embodiments of the invenbe used for the mullions and that the mullions may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, there is According to the present invention, there has been provided an integrated wall system including a mullion and panel assembly secured between improved base and head runners and adapted toreceive operating windows where desired. The component parts are held together by extruded Weather strips. The system is best characterized as a factory-fabricated, field assembled wall system. The wall system is readily leveled by the improved base runner assembly. The small projecting flange of the runner provides a caulking pocket by which the Wall system as a whole may be sealed to the supporting structure. The system is advantageous in that the mullion flanges are stopped short of the runner flanges thereby eliminating the troublesome sealing of the joint between the mullion and the runner and between adjacent mullions and additionally permitting the weather strip to run past the mullions so that it can be shipped and used instock lengths. This latter advantage not only reduces waste but, more important, eliminates the need for expensive factoryfabricated vulcanized corners and permits an uninterrupted seal between the inside and outside of the building. The system is economical to manufacture and stock, economical to erect, performs well on the job, affords flexibility of design, and presents a good appearance.

While various embodiments have been described by way of illustrations, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended in the append: ed claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 7

Whatis claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A building wall construction comprising a plurality of vertically extending mullions each formed of a body portion having a pair of oppositely disposed coplanar flange portions lying outwardly of the first-mentioned portion in a plane and web means interconnecting said flange portions and the first-mentioned portion, flanges of adjacent mullions forming a coplanar frame, at least one panel between adjacent rnullions coplanar with the flanges of said frame and positioned with its edges closely'spaced from said flanges,- a resilient weather strip structurally inter connecting said each ofsaid'edges with the respective spaced flanges, said strip being generally H-shapedwith a pair of opposed grooves, one of said grooves gripping one of. said edges and the other of said grooves gripping said-spaced flange, said strip being formed with a longiillustratedin FIG-l5 a mullion 132 formed of extruded" 7 aluminum. The :mul'lion 132 is adapted for use the Wall system in the same manner as the mullion heretofore described. Referring now. specifically to FIG 1f,

tudinally extending groove between'the first-mentionedgrooves, and said strip being provided with fillers means adapted to be forced into the last-mentioned groove to 7 cause said first-mentioned grooves to gripsaidedge and said flange respectively. y 1

A building wall construction comprising a plurality of vertically extending mullions each formed of a body portion having a pair of oppositely disposed coplanar] flange portions lying outwardly ofthe first-mentioned portionin a plane and web means interconnecting said flange portions and the first-rn entionedportion, flanges rof adjacent mullions forming a coplanar frame, at least one panel between adjacent mullions coplanar with the flanges of said frame and positioned with its edges closely spaced from said flanges, a resilient weather strip structurally interconnecting said each of said edges with the respective spaced flanges, said strip being generally H-shaped with a pair of opposed grooves, one of said grooves gripping one of said edges and the other of said grooves gripping said spaced flange, and a mullion insulating strip covering at least a part of the surface of said flanges.

3. A building wall construction as set forth in claim 2 above wherein said insulating strip is positioned outwardly over each of said pairs of flanges, and whereby said other of said first-mentioned grooves receives both the said spaced flange and one edge portion of said insulating strip.

4. A building wall construction as set forth in claim 2 above wherein said insulating strip is positioned outwardly over at least a part of each of said pairs of flanges and positioned between respective Weather strips on adjacent sides of said mullion.

5. In a building wall frame construction, an adapter assembly adapted to be secured to a surface of a building and including flange means extending away from said surface, at least one mullion including a body portion and flange portions and secured generally perpendicular to said assembly, and a resilient weather strip formed with a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves running the entire length of said assembly with said flange means received in one of said grooves and the ends of said flange portions received in the other of said grooves.

6. In a building wall frame construction, an adapter assembly adapted to be secured to a surface of a building and including flange means extending away from said surface, at least one mullion formed of a body portion secured to said assembly and having a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions lying outwardly of the first-mentioned portion coplanar with said flange means and a web portion interconnecting said flange portions and said first-mentioned portion, and a resilient weather strip formed with a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves running the entire length of said assembly with said flange means received in one of said grooves and the ends of said flange portions received in the other of said grooves, said web portion being coped out at its end to provide clearance for said strip.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 above and additionally including a second one and a third one of said strips positioned with each of said flange portions received longitudinally in one of the grooves of one of said second one and said third one of said strips, and additionally including a pair of panels each having a first edge received in said other of said grooves of the firstmentioned strip and each having another edge received in a groove of the respective second one and third one of said strips.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 above where in said second one and said third one of said strips have square-cut ends butting against said first-mentioned strip.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6 above wherein said flange means includes an adapter angle having a first leg secured to said surface and having a second leg extending away therefrom, and additionally including a telescoping U-shaped runner forming said flange means tightly fitted over said second leg and secured thereto in a level position.

10. In a building wall construction of the type formed of a plurality of panels supported between a plurality of framing members, the combination of a framing member having a first portion and a pair of oppositely disposed coplanar flange portions lying outwardly of said first portion with web means interconnecting said flange portions and said first portion, a pair of resilient weather strips each formed with a pair of opposed grooves, one of said strips positioned on each side of said framing member with the adjacentflange portion of said framing member received in one of said grooves, and an insulating member positioned outwardly of said frame portions and extending at least between adjacent edges of said pair of strips.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 above wherein each of said flange portions is substantially U- shaped with the end of one leg of each portion connected to the web means and the other leg of each of said portions extending in aligned relation with the ends thereof spaced apart to define a longitudinal slot opening into an enlarged hollow cavity formed by said flange portions. and wherein said insulating member is provided with a web having a pair of oppositely extending flanges therefrom, said web extending through said slot and said flanges positioned within said cavity retaining said insulating member in assembled position with said framing member.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 10 above wherein said insulating member extends across both of said flange portions and each of said weather strips receives both one edge of said insulating member and one of said flange portions in said one of said grooves.

13. An operating window assembly adapted to be received in a window opening in a wall formed by inwardly extending flanges in said wall, said assembly comprising a frame portion formed of a plurality of interconnected frame members, each of said frame members being provided with an outwardly extending flange, and a resilient weather strip interconnecting the first-mentioned flanges and the second-mentioned flanges and formed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves, one of said grooves receiving the first-mentioned flanges and the other of said grooves receiving the second-mentioned flanges; and a sash portion operatively associated to said frame portion and formed of a plurality of interconnected horizontal sash members each of which is provided with an inwardly extending flange forming a glazing panel opening, a glazing panel positioned in said opening, and a plurality of resilient weather strips interconnecting said panel and said sash members and formed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves, one of the last-mentioned grooves receiving the edges of said panel and the other of said last-mentioned grooves receiving the lastmentioned flanges.

14. An operating window assembly as set forth in claim 13 above wherein the frame members seal against the last-mentioned weather strip and the sash members seal against the first-mentioned weather strip.

15. An operating window assembly adapted to be received in a window opening in a wall provided with an inwardly extending flange around said opening to receive said window assembly, said assembly comprising a frame portion formed of an upper and a lower horizontal frame member and a pair of vertical side frame members interconnecting said horizontal frame members, each of said members being of angular cross section with a first leg extending edgewise and a second leg extending inwardly from the edge of said first leg, said first legs being provided with an outwardly extending flange, the second leg of one horizontal frame member being positioned on the opposite edge of its first leg relative to the second leg of the other frame members, and a resilient weather strip interconnecting said frame members with the flanges of said opening and formed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves, one of said grooves receiving the flanges of said frame members and the other of said grooves receiving the inwardly extending flanges of said wall forming said opening; and a sash portion operatively associated to said frame portion and including a sash frame formed of an upper and lower horizontal sash member and a pair of vertical side sash members interconnecting said horizontal sash members, each of said sash members being of angular cross section with a first leg extending edgewise and a second leg extending outwardly, the last-mentioned first legs each being provided 13 with an inwardly extending flange forming a glazing opening, the second legs of said sash members being positioned on opposite edges of the first legs from the second legs of adjacent frame members, said sash portion additionally including a glazing panel positioned in said glazing opening with its edges closely spaced from the last-mentioned flanges and a resilient weather strip interconnecting said panel with said last-mentioned flanges and formed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending grooves, one of the last-mentioned grooves receiving the edge of said panel and the other of the lastmentioned grooves receiving the last-mentioned flanges, the second legs of said frame members seating against said last-mentioned weather strips and the legs of said sash members seating against the first-mentioned weather strip.

16. An operating window assembly as set forth in claim 15 above wherein the vertical frame and sash mem ers are of identical cross section and the horizontal frame and sash members are of identical cross section.

17. An operating window assembly as set forth in claim 16 above wherein said first legs do not contact their mating frame member when the Window is closed, thereby minimizing metal-to-metal contact extending through the wall.

18. An operating window assembly adapted to be received in a window opening in a wall provided with a groove in each edge, said assembly comprising a frame portion formed of an upper and lower horizontal frame member and a pair of vertical side members interconnecting said horizontal frame members, each of said members being of angular cross section with a first leg extending edgewise and a second leg extending inwardly from the edge of said first legs, said first legs being provided with an outwardly extending flange adapted to be received in said groove, a second leg of one of said horizontal frame members being positioned on the opposite edge of its first leg relative to the second legs of the other frame members; and a sash portion including a sash frame formed of an upper and lower horizontal sash member I and a pair of vertical side sash members interconnecting said horizontal sash members, each of said sash members being of angular cross section with a first leg extending edgewise and a second leg extending outwardly, the lastmentioned first legs each being provided with an inwardly 2,189,138 Eichner' Feb. 6, 1940 2,595,506 Backman May 6, 1952' 2,654,128 Day Oct. 6, 1953 2,690,822 Meldrum Oct. 6, 1954 2,759,575 Marvin Aug. 21, 1956 2,835,360 Bernardoni et al May 20, 1958 2,889,587 Peterson June 9, 1959 2,985,263 Maciunas May 23, 1961 14 extending flange forming a glazing opening, the second legs of said sash members being positioned on opposite edges relative to their first legs from the second legs of the adjacent frame members, said sash portion being operatively associated to said frame portion, said sash portion additionally including a glazing member positioned in said sash glazing opening with its edges closely spaced from said flanges on said sash members, and a resilient weather strip interconnecting said glazing with said flanges and formed of a pair of opposed longitudinally extending grooves, one of the last-mentioned grooves receiving the edge of the glazing and the other of the last-mentioned grooves receiving the flanges of said sash members, the members seating against said second legs of said frame weather strips.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 6 above wherein said assembly includes a U-shaped adapter member having its bight portion secured to said surface and having a pair of upstanding legs extending from said bight portion, and additionally including a telescoping U-shaped runner forming said flange means tightly fitted over said pair of legs and secured thereto in a level position.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 10 above wherein said framing member is provided with a T-slot between said flange portions and intermediate said weather strip, and wherein said insulating member is provided with a pair of flanges connected to the body of the insulating member by Web means, and wherein said flanges extend into said T-slot to retain said insulating member in assembled position with said framing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 531,863 Great Britain Jan. 13, 1941 

1. A BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING MULLIONS EACH FORMED OF A BODY PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED COPLANAR FLANGE PORTIONS LYING OUTWARDLY OF THE FIRST-MENTIONED PORTION IN A PLANE AND WEB MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FLANGE PORTIONS AND THE FIRST-MENTIONED PORTION, FLANGES OF ADJACENT MULLIONS FORMING A COPLANAR FRAME, AT LEAST ONE PANEL BETWEEN ADJACENT MULLIONS COPLANAR WITH THE FLANGES OF SAID FRAME AND POSITIONED WITH ITS EDGES CLOSELY SPACED FROM SAID FLANGES, A RESILIENT WEATHER STRIP STRUCTURALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID EACH OF SAID EDGES WITH THE RESPECTIVE SPACED FLANGES, SAID STRIP BEING GENERALLY H-SHAPED WITH A PAIR OF OPPOSED GROOVES, ONE OF SAID GROOVES GRIPPING ONE OF SAID EDGES AND THE OTHER OF SAID GROOVES GRIPPING SAID SPACED FLANGE, SAID STRIP BEING FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE BETWEEN THE FIRST-MENTIONED GROOVES, AND SAID STRIP BEING PROVIDED WITH FILLERS MEANS ADAPTED TO BE FORCED INTO THE LAST-MENTIONED GROOVE TO CAUSE SAID FIRST-MENTIONED GROOVES TO GRIP SAID EDGE AND SAID FLANGE RESPECTIVELY. 